Method for disinfecting an aircraft cabin using a lighting assembly and a lighting assembly therefor

Abstract

A lighting assembly for an aircraft includes a visible light source generating visible light and an ultraviolet light source generating ultraviolet light. The visible light source is disposed adjacent to the ultraviolet light source. The visible light source illuminates a first illumination area with the visible light when the lighting assembly operates in a first operation mode. The ultraviolet light source illuminates a second illumination area with the ultraviolet light when the lighting assembly operates in a second mode of operation. The first illumination area substantially overlaps the second illumination area.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lighting assembly for an aircraft, comprising:
 a visible light source generating visible light; 
 an ultraviolet light source generating ultraviolet light; and 
 a controller connected to the lighting assembly to control operation of the visible light source and the ultraviolet light source; 
 wherein the visible light source is disposed adjacent to the ultraviolet light source, 
 wherein the visible light source illuminates a first illumination area with the visible light when the lighting assembly operates in a first operation mode, 
 wherein the ultraviolet light source illuminates a second illumination area with the ultraviolet light when the lighting assembly operates in a second mode of operation, 
 wherein the first illumination area substantially overlaps the second illumination area; and 
 wherein the controller is connected to a plurality of window shades and closes the window shades when the ultraviolet light source operates in the second mode of operation. 
 
     
     
       2. The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the visible light source and the ultraviolet light source are disposed on a single substrate. 
     
     
       3. The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the visible light source comprises a plurality of visible light generators. 
     
     
       4. The lighting assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of visible light generators comprise LEDs. 
     
     
       5. The lighting assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises a plurality of ultraviolet light generators. 
     
     
       6. The lighting assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light generators comprise LEDs. 
     
     
       7. The lighting assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a first number of the plurality of visible light generators is greater than or equal to a second number of the plurality of ultraviolet light generators. 
     
     
       8. The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first sensor connected to the controller to detect when a door to the aircraft is closed and generate a first input signal for the controller. 
 
     
     
       9. The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor to detect the absence of a person in the aircraft and generate a second input for the controller. 
     
     
       10. The lighting assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second sensor is a motion sensor. 
     
     
       11. The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operatively connected to a management system and receives a third input from the management system indicating that the aircraft is parked. 
     
     
       12. The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is connected to a plurality of seats and positions the seats in a configuration so that the seats are bathed in the ultraviolet light when the ultraviolet light source operates in the second mode of operation. 
     
     
       13. A method of operating a lighting assembly comprising a visible light source generating visible light, an ultraviolet light source generating ultraviolet light, a controller connected to the lighting assembly to control operation of the visible light source and the ultraviolet light source, a first sensor connected to the controller to detect when a door to an aircraft is closed and generate a first input, and a second sensor to detect the absence of a person in the aircraft and generate a second input, wherein the visible light source is disposed adjacent to the ultraviolet light source, wherein the visible light source illuminates a first illumination area with the visible light when the lighting assembly operates in a first operation mode, and wherein the ultraviolet light source illuminates a second illumination area with the ultraviolet light when the lighting assembly operates in a second mode of operation, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a management system and receives a third input from the management system indicating that the aircraft is parked, and wherein the controller is connected to a plurality of window shades, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the controller, the first input; 
 receiving, by the controller, the second input; 
 receiving, by the controller, the third input; 
 initiating the second operation mode after receipt of the first input, the second input, and the third input; and 
 closing, by the controller, the window shades when the ultraviolet light source operates in the second mode of operation. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is connected to a plurality of seats, the method further comprising:
 positioning the seats in a configuration so that the seats are bathed in the ultraviolet light when the ultraviolet light source operates in the second mode of operation. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is connected to a plurality of seats, the method further comprising:
 positioning the seats in a configuration so that the seats are bathed in the ultraviolet light when the ultraviolet light source operates in the second mode of operation. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 checking periodically, by the controller, the first input, the second input, and the third input. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 stopping the second operation mode upon failure of receipt of at least one of the first input, the second input, or the third input.